Covered hopper cars



Feb. 18, 1969 W. (3. KEENE COVERED HOPPER CARS Sheet Filed Oct. 24, 1966 INVENTOR. WELLiAM C. KEENE ATTORNEY Sheet Filed Oct. 24, 1966 Sheet Filed Oct. 24, 1966 QMJ m wE SE w a, r mw Nvm\ W L (iv QM, VM.\ (WM, 9v ,1, C @w 2 INN mm Feb. 18, 1969 w, c, K E 3,427,994

COVERED HOPPER CARS Filed Oct. 24, 1966 Sheet 4 of 5 FIG. 7.

Feb. 18, 1969 w. c. KEENE COVERED HOPPER CARS Sheet Filed Oct. 24, 1966 United States Patent 3,427,994 COVERED HOPPER CARS William C. Keene, St. Charles, Mo., assignor to ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 588,894

U.S. Cl. 105248 Int. Cl. B61d 3/00; B61f /16 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is directed to a covered hopper car in which volumetric capacities in the range of seven thousand (7000) cubic feet or over are provided. Today, the largest covered hopper cars are around six thousand (6000) cubic feet and it is desirable to carry larger volumes in some instances where small densities are encountered. The conventional manner to increase the capacity in covered hopper cars is to increase the length of the car to provide larger hoppers. However, when the length of the car and the distance between truck centers are increased, the width of the car has to be decreased to remain within the A.A.R. clearance limits. Thus, diminishing results are obtained by increasing the truck centers and car length to increase the volumetric capacity of the car.

Various arrangements have been devised to utilize the end corner space over the trucks in the end hoppers of a covered hopper car. Some prior arrangements have included a flexible diaphragm or bag which rests horizontally on the floor of the end hopper when the car is loaded. Upon unloading, air is employed to inflate and raise the diaphragm to move the material to the hopper opening. Other prior arrangements have included end hopper slope sheets mounted for movement between a generally horizontal position in the loaded car and an inclined position for unloading.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a large capacity covered hopper car having a volumetric capacity in the range of seven thousand (7000) cubic feet or over.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a covered hopper car which utilizes the corner space in the end hoppers over the trucks.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a covered hopper car which has a minimum truck center to center distance for a maximum volumetric capacity thereby to minimize the dead load and live load beam action of the car.

The above objects are obtained in a covered hopper car having end hoppers that extend beyond and outwardly of the trucks and bolsters with bottom outlet structures for the end hoppers discharging from a position forwardly of the truck wheels and at an elevation below the upper surfaces of the truck wheels. Thus, the corner space in the end hoppers is utilized for obtaining an increased capacity covered hopper car. Also, the overhanging end hoppers permit a relatively small distance between truck 3,427,994 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 centers and provide a cantilever action to minimize the beam action of the railway car.

The invention accordingly comprises: the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the covered hopper railway car comprising the present invention and illustrating the end hoppers positioned and discharging outwardly of the trucks;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation car illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section of the bolster structure over a wheeled truck;

FIGURE 6 is a partial longitudinal section taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating an end hopper structure comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragment of FIGURE 3 with the bottom outlet structure removed and illustrating the end hopper arrangement over the center sill structure;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken of FIGURE 2 and structure; and

- FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective, partly diagrammatic, illustrating the primary end load carrying members.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings of the application.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, a covered hopper railway car illustrating the present invention is generally indicated 10 having a plurality of intermediate hoppers 12 and end hoppers 14 separated by partitions 16. Partitions 16 extend between arcuate side sheets 18 which are struck from a constant radius. A side sill 20 extends longitudinally along the lower marginal portion of each side sheet 18 and a generally angle-shaped top chord member 22 extends along the upper marginal portion of each side sheet 18. An arcuate roof sheet 24 is secured over side sheets 18. For loading hoppers 12 and 14, hatch openings covered by suitable hatch covers 26 are spaced along the length of roof 24.

Hopper slope sheets 28 for intermediate hoppers 12 extend downward from partitions 16 to bottom discharge hopper outlet structures indicated generally at 30. Outlet structures 30 are of the pneumatic unloading type and unload from a rotatable pneumatic tube 32. However, it is to be understood that outlet structures 30 are shown as examples and that other type of bottom discharge outlet structures may be employed with the present invention, such as sliding gravity gates.

Referring now to the end hoppers 14 which comprise important features of the present invention, a truck at each end of railway car 10 is indicated generally 34 and has wheels 36 thereon adapted for riding along the rails of a railway track. An end stub center sill structure generally indicated 38 is provided adjacent each end of railway car 10. Each end center sill structure 38 includes a generally hat-shaped center sill 40 having lower outwardly extending flanges 42 and vertical webs 44. A shear plate 46 extends across center sill 40 over the subjacent truck 34 and is secured by welding to side sills 20. Stub center sill 40 terminates closely adjacent the hopper slope sheet 28 of the adjacent intermediate hopper 12..

An underframe bolster structure over each truck 34 is generally indicated 48' and includes a center plate 50 of the covered hopper generally along line 88 illustrating the end bulkhead wall adapted to receive a kingpin (not shown) of a truck bolster. Lower bolster cover plate 52 is secured to side sills 20 and shear plate 46 forms the bolster upper cover plate. Transverse bolster webs 54 extend vertically between lower cover plate 52 and shear plate 46 adjacent side bearings 56. Also, bolster webs 58 extend transversely of the car between side sills 20 and center sill 40.

Each end hopper 14 is formed by an inclined slope sheet 60 having bifurcated lower ends 62 to receive center sill 40. As shown particularly in FIGURE 7, an inverted V-shaped divider 64 is placed over center sill 40 and connecting side plates 66 extend along vertical webs 44 along the outer edges of flanges 42 to cover flanges 42 and thereby direct lading around the stub center sill to prevent the lading from collecting on flanges 42. Skirts 68 extend downwardly from plates 66 to a circumferential flange 70 on which bottom outlet structure 30 is secured. A bottom cover plate 72 is secured between the lower marginal portions of skirts 68 to prevent the entry of lading upwardly within the center sill 40. Divider 64, side plates 66, and skirts 68 thus form a cover for stub center sill 40.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 6, a generally vertical end bulkhead wall structure 74 forms the outer end of each end hopper 14 and comprises respective inner and outer sheets 76 and 78 separated and reinforced by channels 80 secured between sheets 76, 78. Additional stifleners 81 are secured to the outer surface of sheet 78. A box-shaped tie beam or end sill 82 forms a bottom bulkhead support and extends over center sill 40 between side sills 20. Bulkhead structure 74 is secured by Welding to bottom support 82. Extending dOWnwardly from sup port 82 and bulkhead structure 74 on each side of center sill 40 is an end partition or portion 86 between center sill 40 and a hopper side slope sheet 88. Each end partition 86 is secured along its upper marginal portion to support 82 and has a lower marginal portion 89 secured to circumferential flange 70 as shown in FIGURE 6.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 9, generally triangular-shaped reinforcing webs 90 are secured between shear plate 46 and adjacent hopper slope sheets 28-, 60. Vertical transverse webs 92 extend from shear plate 46 transversely of the car between side sheets 18 and webs 90 to transmit stresses between side sheets 18 and shear plate 46. FIGURE 9 shows the primary end load carrying members in perspective. Upon impact forces being exerted against the railway car, stresses are transmitted from center sill 40 to shear plate 46, triangular webs 90, side sills 20, and side sheets 18 for dissipation of the stresses. The dead weight of the lading is transmitted from slope sheets 28, 60, side sheets 18, side sills 20, and transverse webs 92 to shear plate 46 and bolsters 48.

As a specific example of a covered hopper car having a volumetric capacity of around seven thousand (7000) cubic feet or over, distance D between the truck centers may be around forty-six (46) feet, distance E from the truck centerline to the striker at the end of stub center sill 40 may be ten feet, eight (8) inches, and a width F between the outer surfaces of side sheets 18 may be ten (10) feet, eight (8) inches while remaining within A.A.R. clearance limits.

From the foregoing, it is to be understood that a large volumetric capacity covered hopper car has been provided from the arrangement of end hoppers 14 which have bottom discharge outlet structures 30 positioned forwardly of the bolster structures 48 and the trucks. A shear plate 46 over each bolster structure 48 is secured between side sills 20 and adjacent slope sheets 28, 60 of adjacent respective hoppers 12, 14 to transmit stresses between the side sills 20, bolster structures 48, and end stub center sills 40.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A covered hopper railway car comprising a center sill, a truck adjacent each end of the car having wheels for riding on rails, a bolster structure over each truck, a side sill extending along each side of the railway car, a side sheet secured to each side sill and extending upwardly therefrom, a roof secured over the side sheets and having openings for receiving lading, at least one intermediate hopper positioned between the bolster structures, an end hopper at each end of the railway car positioned generally outwardly of each bolster structure, a bottom outlet structure for each intermediate and each end hopper, the bottom outlet structure for each end hopper being positioned below the adjacent bolster structure and forwardly of the wheels on the adjacent truck, an end slope sheet for the intermediate hopper adjacent the bolster structure and extending upwardly from the associated bottom outlet structure to a position over the adjacent bolster structure, an end slope sheet for the adjacent end hopper extending upwardly from its associated bottom outlet structure to a position over the adjacent bolster structure and secured to said end slope sheet of the adjacent intermediate hopper, and a generally horizontal shear plate over each bolster structure positioned between said end slope sheets and secured to said side sills for transmitting stresses between the bolster structures and the side sills.

2. A covered hopper railway car as set forth in claim 1 wherein a generally vertical web is positioned over each shear plate and extends transversely of the car between the shear plate and the upper marginal portions of the adjacent end slope sheets over the associated bolster structure.

3. A covered hopper railway car comprising a truck adjacent each end of the car having wheels adapted to ride on the rails of a railway track, a bolster structure over each truck, an end stub center sill adjacent each end of the car, a side sill extending longitudinally along each side of the car, a plurality of intermediate hoppers between the end stub center sills and an end hopper over each end center sill, a bottom outlet structure for each intermediate hopper positioned centrally of the width of the car and spaced at intervals along the length of the car, a bottom outlet structure for each end hopper positioned below the associated stub center sill and forwardly of the wheels of the associated truck whereby relatively large capacity end hoppers are positioned over the end stub center sills and discharge from a position forwardly of the adjacent trucks, an end slope sheet for the intermediate hopper adjacent each bolster structure extending upwardly from the associated bottom outlet structure closely adjacent the inner end of the adjacent center sill to a position over the adjacent bolster structure, an end slope sheet for each end hopper having a bifurcated lower end portion fitting over the associated center sill and extending upwardly from its associated bottom outlet structure to a position over the adjacent bolster structure, a generally horizontal shear plate over each bolster structure positioned between said end slope sheets and secured to said side sills for transmitting stresses between the bolster structures and the side sills, a generally vertical end bulkhead forming the outer end of each end hopper, and lower end portions extending downwardly from the end bulkhead along the sides of the adjacent end stub center sill closely adjacent the outer end of the associated stub center sill.

4. A covered hopper railway car as set forth in claim 3 wherein a generally vertical web is positioned over each shear plate and extends transversely of the car between the shear plate and the upper marginal portions of the adjacent end slope sheets over the associated bolster structure, and a generally triangular web extends in a direction generally longitudinally of the car between the shear plate and adjacent end slope sheets.

5. A large capacity covered hopper railway car having, a truck adjacent each end of the car adapted to ride on the rails of -a railway track, a bolster structure over each truck, a center sill structure secured to the bolster structures, a plurality of intermediate hoppers between the trucks, an overhanging end hopper outwardly of each truck extending downwardly to a position below the adjacent center sill structure and forwardly of the associated truck, a generally vertical end bulkhead extending up wardly from the adjacent center sill structure at a position spaced a substantial distance outwardly of the associated truck and forming the outer end of the end hopper, lower portions extending downwardly from the end bulkhead along the sides of the adjacent center sill structure, an inner end slope sheet for each end hopper having lower end portions extending downwardly along the sides of the adjacent center sill structure and an upper portion extending upwardly to a position over the adjacent bolster structure, bottom outlet structures for the intermediate hoppers, and a bottom outlet structure for each end hopper secured to the lower end of the associated end hopper forwardly of the associated truck whereby a relatively large capacity end hopper is positioned over the adjacent center sill structure and discharges from a posi tion forwardly of the adjacent truck.

6. A large capacity covered hopper railway car having, a truck adjacent each end of the car having at least two pairs of wheels adapted to ride on the rails of a railway track, a bolster structure over each truck, a center sill structure secured to the bolster structures, a plurality of intermediate hoppers between the trucks, an overhanging end hopper outwardly of each truck extending downwardly to a position below the adjacent center sill structure and forwardly of the leading wheels of the associated truck, an end sill adjacent each end of the car extending transversely of the car over the associated center sill structure, a generally vertical end bulkhead extending upwardly from the adjacent end sill at a position spaced a substantial distance outwardly of the leading pair of wheels of the associated truck and forming the outer end of the end hopper, lower end portions extending downwardly from each end sill along the sides of the adjacent center sill structure, an inner end slope sheet for each end hopper having lower end portions extending downwardly along the sides of the adjacent center sill structure and an upper portion extending upwardly to a position over the adjacent bolster structure, bottom outlet structures for the intermediate hoppers, and a bottom outlet structure for each end hopper secured to the lower ends of the associated end hopper at an elevation below the adjacent center sill structure and forwardly of the leading wheels of the associated truck whereby a relatively large capacity end hopper is positioned over the adjacent center sill structure and discharges from a position forwardly of the leading wheels of the adjacent truck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 311,274 1/ 1885 Van Worrner l05248 401,530 4/1889 Zurcher l05248 782,927 2/ 1905 Saling l05248 1,109,600 9/ 1914 Rohlfing --248 1,422,133 7/1922 Robider l05248 1,504,239 8/ 1924 Hindahl l05248 2,620,226 12/1952 Jones l05248 X ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. HOWARD BELTRAN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 105-228, 414, 420 

